3D Printing
3D Printing or additive manufacturing is the process of creating physical 3D objects from a digital model. We use Fused Deposition Modelling printing (FDM) technology for printing 3D models into physical objects. This is available to all students in DBE.
Learn more about Makerspace inductions.
The DBE Makerspace contains 22 3D printers. You can also access 3D printers in the 202 Digital Modelling Workshop.
Specifications
Dimensions
| Type | Quantity | Build Volume | No. of Extruders | Resolution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimaker 2+ Connect | 10 | 223 x 220 x 205mm | 1 | 0.06 – 0.2mm | 418 Makerspace |
| Ultimaker S3 | 11 | 230 x 190 x 200mm | 2 | 0.06 – 0.8mm | 418 Makerspace |
| Ultimaker S5 | 1 | 330 x 240 x 300mm | 2 | 0.06 – 0.8mm | 418 Makerspace |
| Ultimaker 3 Extended | 1 | 215 x 215 x 300mm | 2 | 0.06 – 0.8mm | 202 Digital Modelling |
| Markforged Onyx Pro | 1 | 320 x 132 x 154mm | 2 | 0.1 – 0.2mm | 202 Digital Modelling |
| Ultimaker S7 | 2 | 330 x 240 x 300mm | 2 | 0.06 - 0.4mm | 202 Digital Modelling |
Materials Available
| Material | Description | Available Colours |
|---|---|---|
| PLA (polylactic acid) | Good for most 3D print projects. Easy to print, with relatively high strength, low thermal expansion and good adhesion, but low heat resistance | White, pearl white, black, transparent, silver, grey, blue, green, teal, purple, red, orange, yellow |
| Tough PLA | Similar strength to ABS and heat-resistant to 58°C | White, black |
| TPU95A (thermoplastic polyurethane) | Flexible, elastic, chemical-resistant filament | White, black |
| PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) | Water-soluble support material, for specialised applications only | Natural |
| Carbon fibre filled nylon (Onyx Pro only) | High strength, toughness, and chemical resistance; can be reinforced with continuous fibre to yield aluminum-strength parts. For applications where strength is a requirement, e.g. plastic part replacement, housings, or mounts. | Black |
Safe work procedures
Setting up your files
Check for modelling errors
Common issues with 3D printing occur due to bad geometry. Please make sure you check your meshes for the following before attempting to print:
| Issue type | What this is? | What does it cause? | How do you fix it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-manifold geometry | When an objects has edges that are not totally connected or objects with added faces. The object does not have volume. | Doing this causes some or all of the model to have no volume making it impossible to print. | Geometry must be fully enclosed (watertight), and only 2 faces may share an edge. |
| Non -unified faces | When a mesh’s faces (normals) are not all facing in the correct direction. | Doing this causes printing software to not understand what is inside or outside the model, leading to unexpected results. | Check that the normals of all faces are facing the correct direction. |
| Unsupported areas | When there are not enough support structures to print your object. Some parts of your object will be printed in mid-air. | Your object may fail to print or break apart. It may cause damage to the printer. | Consider whether your model can be redesigned to support any overhanging areas. Consider whether your model should be printed in a different orientation, or broken into separate parts (e.g. a roof separated from a building). Add supports in Cura and remove after printing. |
Checklist
- Check for Non-Manifold Errors
- Check for Naked Edges
- Fill/ Cap Holes
- Unify Normals
- Convert your model to a mesh
- Export your model as a .stl file
Printing your 3D files
With an STL file ready, this 3D file will need to be put through a slicer software which slices this 3D model into a stack of vertical layers for printing and converts this information into a set of G-Code which are sent to the 3D printer to print the file.
Ultimaker Cura
Ultimaker Cura is a free to download slicer software that is used with all 3D printers within the DBE Makerspace.
Before printing, ensure that the following settings (but not limited to) are specifically selected to suit your 3D model, material, and printer:
- Printer model to use
- Material type and colour
- Print quality and layer height
- Infill density and pattern
- Overhang support density and placement
- Build plate adhesion type
Selecting the most optimal print settings will help ensure a better chance of a successful print as well as also helps determine that:
- Model has the desired finish quality
- Model has sufficient support
- Supports are easy to remove
- Strength of printed part
- Print time
- Weight and amount of material needed